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Lutheran reading notes

In Genesis chapter 6, the story continues to develop the theme of origins of creation, humanity, covenant, and the patriarchs. Lutheran interpretation often highlights how the events reveal humanity’s need for God’s grace and the reliability of God's promises. The chapter illustrates both the reality of human weakness and the faithfulness of God who works through history.

Theme: Creation, fall, covenant beginnings Key people: Adam/Eve; Noah; Abraham; Isaac; Jacob; Joseph Key place: Eden; Ararat; Canaan; Egypt Liturgical use: Vigil/creation readings; patriarchal lections
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
Genesis 6:1 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they {were} fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Genesis 6:2 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also {is} flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Genesis 6:3 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare {children} to them, the same {became} mighty men which {were} of old, men of renown.
Genesis 6:4 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man {was} great in the earth, and {that} every imagination of the thoughts of his heart {was} only evil continually. {every...: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires} {continually: Heb. every day}
Genesis 6:5 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Genesis 6:6 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. {both...: Heb. from man unto beast}
Genesis 6:7 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:8 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9 These {are} the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man {and} perfect in his generations, {and} Noah walked with God. {perfect: or, upright}
Genesis 6:9 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:10 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
Genesis 6:11 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
Genesis 6:12 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. {with the earth: or, from the earth}
Genesis 6:13 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. {rooms: Heb. nests}
Genesis 6:14 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15 And this {is the fashion} which thou shalt make it {of}: The length of the ark {shall be} three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
Genesis 6:15 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; {with} lower, second, and third {stories} shalt thou make it.
Genesis 6:16 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein {is} the breath of life, from under heaven; {and} every thing that {is} in the earth shall die.
Genesis 6:17 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Genesis 6:18 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every {sort} shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep {them} alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Genesis 6:19 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every {sort} shall come unto thee, to keep {them} alive.
Genesis 6:20 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather {it} to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
Genesis 6:21 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Genesis 6:22 highlights creation, fall, covenant beginnings with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.